The Vision of Slaughter
1 Then [in my vision] I heard Him cry out with a thunderous voice, saying, “Approach now, executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.”
2 Behold, six men [angelic beings] came from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with his battle-axe in his hand; and among them was acertain man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s writing case at his side. They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Then the [Shekinah] gloryandbrilliance of the God of Israel (the cloud)went up from the cherubim on which it had rested, to [stand above] the threshold of the [Lord’s] temple. And the Lordcalled to the man clothed with linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side.
4 The Lordsaid to him, “Go through the midst of the city, throughout all of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh [in distress] and grieve over all the repulsive acts which are being committed in it.”
5 But to the others I heard Him say, “Follow him [the man with the scribe’s writing case] throughout the city and strike; do not let your eyes have pity and do not spare [anyone].
6 Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women; but do not touchorgo near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple [who did not have the Lord’smark on their foreheads].
7 And He said to the executioners, “Defile the temple and fill its courtyards with the dead. Go out!” So they went out and struck downthe peoplein the city.
8 As they were executing them and Ialonewas left, I fell face downward and cried out, “Alas, Lord God! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel [the whole remnant] by pouring out Your wrathandindignation on Jerusalem?”
9 Then He said to me, “The wickedness (guilt) of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of blood and the city is full of perversionandinjustice; for they say, ‘The Lordhas abandoned the land; the Lorddoes not see [what we are doing].’
10 But as for Me, My eye will have no pity, nor will I spare, but I will bring their [wicked] conduct upon their [own] heads.”
11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side, reported, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”